PhD Student: Reducing human-wildlife conflict in natural, agricultural and urban laboundaries

I am a wildlife biologist from Nepal and recently completed my Master’s degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA. I will be commencing a joint PhD with IIT Delhi (with Dr Ajay Saini), India and UQ (with Prof Salit Kark). My Master’s thesis was based on prey selection by birds of prey in North America including sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper’s hawks and barn owls.

I have had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects including human-wildlife conflicts in Nepal, behavioural research on vultures, raptor migration in North America and Thailand, and many more. My research interest integrates conservation biology, behavioural ecology and human dimensions. I am very passionate about raising awareness among local communities towards wildlife conservation. In addition, I love travelling, bird watching, photography and writing on my blog.

Contact: anisha.pokharel@
uqconnect.edu.au

PhD Student: Ecology and conservation of Indonesian Javan or Lesser one-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus Demarest)

I’ve been fortunate to get the green light to undertake a PhD on the “Ecology and Conservation of Indonesian Javan or Lesser one-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus Demarest, 1822), in Ujung Kulon National Park, West Java, Indonesia”, aiming to do the work over a four-year time frame. These animals are amongst the most critically endangered species on the planet with less than 60 animals left in only one population, are conservation dependant and the proposed research will explore how the animals are doing ecologically in light of current conservation measures and the role the local community plays in rhino conservation (very broad summary).

From a current work perspective for the past 4 odd years as the Land & Biodiversity Manager, I’ve been leading a team of 13 environmental specialists, including landscape ecologists, landscape restoration, strategic planning and natural resource management experts in the Catchment management space in the Goulburn Broken Catchment of northern Victoria. The job entails working with the community and key stakeholders to manage their natural resources more sustainably, my operating budget is around $4.5 million annually which supports staff and a range of large and small-scale projects, for example, we restored and protected 1,000 ha of degraded EPBC threatened grassy woodland and 200 ha of seasonal herbaceous wetlands during 2013/14 to name a few of the works completed. My operating environment varies between sitting in a landholder’s kitchen discussing wetland management to meetings with state and federal senior bureaucrats and ministers over funding, so jack of all trades master of none!

The common thread to my working life is a strong interest in wildlife, wildlife management and the importance of taking community along the management journey as well, I’ve a passion for photography and natural history writing and am keen and motivated to get stuck into learning more about and contributing to what is a poorly known but iconic species. In my spare time, my wife Tracey (married 25 years), and three kids Coen (20 and studying archaeology at Latrobe), Daly 18 (about to finish year 12) and Allira 16 (about to finish year 9) keep me occupied.

Contact: stevew@gbcma.vic.gov.au

PhD Student: Assessing potential for adaptive governance of cross-boundary marine protected areas network in East Africa

My research interests are in marine resource governance. My specific interests are in marine protected area (MPA) planning and management. My current research concerns the planning of cross-boundary MPA networks and their adaptive management. I am focusing on the East African Marine Ecoregion to understand how governance contexts influence adaptive management and have implications for the management and governance of cross-boundary MPA networks.

In my research, I will also develop novel approaches for incorporating governance aspects into the design and spatial prioritization of MPAs and MPA networks. My most recent research explored how to address conflicts using marine spatial planning.

Contact: tudahke@yahoo.com

PhD Student: Cross jurisdictional governance of migratory shore bird conservation

I completed my undergraduate studies at “Universidad del Valle”, in my native Colombia, and a Master of Environmental Science at Macquarie University. I have accrued over 6 years of experience working in biodiversity conservation with the government and the not-for-profit sector in Colombia and Australia.

I am currently working on global environmental governance for conserving migratory species under the supervision of Dr Richard Fuller and the Co-supervision of Dr Tiffany Morrison and Dr Salit Kark. Migratory shorebirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway face multiple threats; which have triggered a conservation agenda influenced by the emergence of international policy. Since the 1970s there has been a proliferation of international institutional arrangements relevant to migratory shorebird conservation in this flyway. However, despite the existence of this institutional framework, migratory shorebirds have continued to decline. Hence, the effectiveness of the governance system in place has been questioned. Through my project, I will integrate ecology and social science to evaluate the performance of such an international institutional framework.

Contact: e.gallocajiao@uq.edu.au

PhD Student: Understanding human dimensions across multiple scales to develop better management solutions to fisheries bycatch.

I have an interdisciplinary background in biological conservation that started with my B.A. in Environmental Studies at Yale University, during which I was able to work on several projects related to natural resource management and conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean. I then spent a year studying sea turtle by-catch and traditional fisheries in a village in Ghana in West Africa.

In 2013 I moved to South Africa to complete my M.Sc. in Applied Marine Science at the University of Cape Town (UCT). I’ve since been working as a research assistant at UCT on several projects related to MPA monitoring in South Africa, mostly using underwater video.

Despite all the time I’ve spent in and around fishing boats, I am extremely bad at catching fish. I’m excellent at counting them though, so if anyone needs that Scarce Skill then I’ve got you covered.

PhD Thesis: Interactions between native and invasive cavity-nesting bird species in Australia

My primary research interests include species’ use of highly transformed habitats, conservation management in human-dominated landscapes and habitat restoration. I am particularly interested in the impact of invasive species on native community assembly and function. Recent work has included quantifying novel ecosystem support of native species, invasive species distribution mapping, and resource use by native species in human-modified habitats.

My current research explores why certain species do well in human-dominated habitats, and how introduced species impact native community interactions. To answer these questions I am examining how the presence of the non-native Common Mynah and the native Noisy Miner affect bird communities in southeast Queensland, Australia. The outcomes of this work will help to inform conservation policy for native species as well as management plans for invasive species.

Contact: a.munro.rogers@gmail.com

PhD Student: The role of behaviour in the ecological success of Indian Mynas

Francoise is originally from France and joins A/Professor Salit Kark and Dr Andrea Griffin on the collaborative cavity-nesting species project. Francoise is the main driver of the project in New South Wales and her area of interest includes behavioural interactions and individual-based behaviours of the Indian Myna.

Contact: francoise.lermite@uon.edu.au

PhD Thesis: Incorporating trans-national collaboration into marine spatial conservation prioritization

I am originally from Costa Rica, where I did my BSc in Biology. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I worked for several years on a Sea Turtle Conservation project on the Caribbean coast of the country. I was also involved in environmental education activities, and together with other colleagues, started Keto Foundation, a Non-for-Profit Organization that strives to do research that can better inform management decisions of coastal and marine areas of the country.

Later, I obtained an MSc degree in Geo-information Science and Earth Observations in the Netherlands, which opened the doors to being involved as a GIS and remote sensing analyst in several projects in Costa Rica and Southeast Asia, both in marine and terrestrial environments. Through these experiences, I have become interested in spatial conservation prioritization, which led me to start my PhD at the University of Queensland in November 2014.

Globally, there is a growing interest in multinational conservation initiatives in the marine environment. Thus through my PhD research, I would like to generate information that will help to better understand how incorporating trans-national collaboration into marine spatial conservation prioritization could affect environmental decisions, as well as the benefits and limitations of doing so.

Contact: r.venegas@uq.edu.au

I am a marine spatial ecologist, with an interest in finding sustainable and practical solutions for biodiversity protection. My research interests include conservation planning and prioritization (e.g. designing marine protected area networks), marine spatial planning, evaluating and mapping threats to biodiversity and integrating social and economic objectives to facilitate the implementation of conservation action. I am particularly interested in sea turtles, exploring the drivers of their nesting patterns and using decision support tools to select priority areas for sea turtle conservation.

My PhD at the University of Queensland focused on advancing conservation planning in the Mediterranean Sea, advancing the theory of systematic conservation planning and developing solutions with implications for the Mediterranean region.

Tessa has recently started a postdoc at CSIRO in Brisbane.

Contact: tessa.mazor@csiro.au

I am a conservation biologist interested in using the best available ecological, social, and economic information to improve the way conservation efforts are planned and implemented. I completed my PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California-Santa Cruz in 2015, where my research focused on quantifying the impacts of invasive alien mammals on globally threatened insular vertebrate species, and on the development of optimization tools to prioritize invasive mammal eradications on islands. I also investigated national-level relationships between conservation costs, governance, and human rights to better understand how prioritizing conservation based on cost alone may lead to lower success rates for conservation projects as well as unintended negative outcomes for local people.

Before beginning my Ph.D. research, I worked in the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, NY, where I contributed to conservation-related research projects, museum exhibits, and education initiatives. I have conducted fieldwork in the eastern and western continental US, Hawaii, Alaska, and Costa Rica. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Yale University in 2004.

Dr Erin McCreless is presently a postdoctoral research fellow at Oregon State University.

Contact: e.mccreless@uq.edu.au

Post-doc Researcher: NESP Islands and refugia projects

I am a postdoctoral research fellow working on the NESP Threatened Species Hub, on Theme 4: Reintroductions and Refugia.

My prior research focused on climate change impacts and biodiversity conservation using spatial modelling. Funded by NCCARF, I modelled the distributions of >1700 vertebrate species across Australia for both current and future climate scenarios to identify future biodiversity hotspots and refugia. Using these models, I applied conservation planning frameworks to identify spatial priorities for climate change adaptation for biodiversity and carbon sequestration. This research fed into Natural Resource Management and government planning for climate change adaptation

I have a particular fascination with flying vertebrates and have worked on bats on three continents and in nine countries. I worked as a field ecologist for with Australian Wildlife Conservancy before moving to Townsville to study savanna birds with JCU and CSIRO. My PhD: “Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability: Novel methods for Understanding Potential Impacts on Australian Tropical Savanna Birds” adapted species distribution modelling techniques to account for temporal and spatial variability in the distributions of highly vagile bird species.

I am on the Recovery Team for the Black-throated Finch and sit on Birdlife Australia’s Research and Conservation Committee.

Contact: a.reside@uq.edu.au

PhD Student: Spatiotemporal interactions between invasive and native bird species in Australia

I was born and raised in north-western Georgia (USA) where my parents taught me how to turn over rocks to find scorpions and salamanders, to fish and hunt, to garden, and to pick berries. I received my bachelor’s degree in forest resources from the University of Georgia in 2006, and my master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries science from Mississippi State University in 2013. In between, I worked as a public lands biologist/land manager for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, conserving and managing endangered ecosystems, endangered species, game species, and everything.

I came to Brisbane in 2013 to live with my wife and (now) son, and I began working for Salit later that year. My strengths are GIS, the R Statistical Environment, and technical management/research skills (fire, farm equipment, surveys). My PhD will focus on modelling invasive bird species interactions and using that information to build multi-species dynamic occupancy models to inform prioritization of actions. I love bluegrass music and I play Dobro guitar in my spare time.

Contact: matthewryanmckinney@
gmail.com

PhD Student: Systematic study of the effects of invasive mammals on native wildlife in biological islands

I completed my undergraduate studies in Veterinary Medicine at Universidad de Chile in 2010. Then I began working in a small animal clinic, where I was a volunteer since 2006, as a surgeon and internal medicine physician until 2012, when I started working in an Ecology Group named “Fauna Australis” in Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, at the same time I worked for different NGOs in Chile and as an Environmental Consultant (Fauna Specialist) for different environmental consultant companies.

In March 2014 I returned to my alma mater and worked in the Centre for Environmental and Biodiversity Management until November 2014, when I arrived in Australia and started my PhD under the supervision of Salit Kark, in The Biodiversity Research Group of the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science in The School of Biological Sciences of the University of Queensland.

My project aims to develop a scientifically-based protocol using novel scientific tools, to prioritize actions and develop strategies that will enable us to effectively minimize the threats of invasive mammals, which affect Australia’s unique biodiversity and ecosystems. I will investigate the spatial patterns and major processes shaping the invasion of terrestrial invasive mammals in Australia at a continental scale, synthesizing spatial, temporal, historical, and economic data to examine the role of biological versus human-related processes in shaping invasion success and impacts in Australia. This will allow better integration of biological, climatic and human-related data to spatially prioritize action.

My interests are mainly related to conservation biology, community ecology, population dynamics, and invasive species (especially the effects of invasive mammals and birds on the native fauna and the environment). I have experience in ecological surveys, environmental baselines, environmental impact analysis, monitoring endangered species and mapping their interactions network.

Contact: h.caceres@
uqconnect.edu.au

I am a marine biologist with research interests encompassing spatial ecology, quantitative marine ecology, climate change, and conservation. My research is characterised by the novel integration of multiple disciplines to tackle fundamental questions in marine conservation science. My current research is in collaboration with the Brazilian Network for Climate Change and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, where I am investigating the impacts of climate change on the distribution of marine species in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

Within the Kark Group, I am a research assistant working on some ongoing projects such as investigating how collaboration can improve conservation in the Amazon basin and the island conservation project.

I completed my PhD in Biological Oceanography in 2015 through the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (Brazil) under the supervision of Professor José Henrique Muelbert. As part of my PhD, I spent six months at The University of Queensland working with Professor Hugh Possingham to investigate how to incorporate estuarine dynamics and information from different life stages of fish into marine spatial planning.

Before I started to focus my research on marine conservation, most of my projects were related to fish eggs and larvae taxonomy and ecology. Due to these skills, I am currently collaborating in the National Ichthyoplankton Monitoring and Observing Program with Professors Anthony Richardson (UQ/CSIRO), Professor Iain Suthers (UNSW) and Tony Miskiewicz.

Contact: duarte.micheli@
yahoo.com.br

Will is a UQ Fellow hosted by Salit Kark’s group and Robbie Wilson’s group.

I am an evolutionary ecologist interested in understanding how interactions between species generate and maintain the world’s biodiversity. My research stems from field observations and experiments and tends to focus on two main systems: the relationships between avian brood parasites, such as cuckoos, and their hosts; and the interactions between predatory coral reef fishes and their prey. Lately, this work has been focusing more on species that live within Australia, though I also have current projects running in China (birds) and French Polynesia (fish).

Before starting at UQ, I completed a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley (2015 – 2016); an Endeavour Fellowship at the University of Cambridge (2015) and my PhD at the Australian National University (2011 – 2014). Before that I split my time between my PostGrad studies at James Cook University and working as a tour guide in the North-Western Arnhemland.

Contact: w.feeney@uq.edu.au

MPhil: Assessing changes in biodiversity along urban gradients within the aerospace to inform decision frameworks for the creation of biodiversity-friendly cities.

Having just completed my Bachelor of Science in conservation biology and environmental science at the University of Western Australia, I’ve moved to Brisbane to pursue a Master in Philosophy at the University of Queensland with Dr Salit Kark. Throughout my undergraduate degree, and for some time afterwards, I worked concurrently with numerous research scientists in the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

I was able to gain laboratory and field experience relating to fire science, looking at extinction debt, the vitality of obligate seeding species and the general decline in health for plant species, particularly Banksia’s, within Fitzgerald National Park. Throughout my time volunteering at Perth Zoo, I also assisted with analysing data on the rehabilitation costs for black cockatoos to compare it to other conservation strategies. Finally, I completed a summer research project with the Kings Park and Botanic Gardens Authority, investigating the impact of various disturbances on species community change over time.

I have a very broad range of interests within conservation biology; however, I hope to expand my knowledge and skillset in spatial conservation planning and prioritisation. My research will focus on 3D urban conservation planning for cities, by observing bird activity in the “aerospace” and then attempting to map the vertical habitat space available along an urban gradient. From this study, I hope to be able to identify key aerospace “hotspots” for biodiversity.

3D modelling of Brisbane combined with data from the field and available literature can then be used to inform future management actions targeted at creating a more biodiversity-friendly city. I aim to be able to collaborate with relevant stakeholders throughout my degree. I’m very passionate about conservation and I’m so excited by this opportunity to further my interests and my impact!

Contact: a.re@uq.edu.au

Islands on fire: Investigating fire patterns and threatened species richness across Australian islands

Growing up hiking, climbing and skiing in the Victorian Alpine region gave me an appreciation for nature and a love for Australian wildlife. I pursued this passion through a BSc majoring in Zoology at The University of Melbourne, gaining research experience in the areas of marine biology, examining predator responses in soldier crabs; and animal behaviour, investigating cognitive behaviour and learning in European honeybees. To gain further hands-on experience I undertook multiple volunteering positions, trapping Mitchell’s hopping mice in Big Desert in Western Victoria, undertaking revegetation activities and native nursery work with Phillip Island Nature Parks and trapping Tasmanian devils and quolls in a forestry plantation in central Tasmania. 

My passion for conservation and biodiversity protection in the Australian landscape led to a move to Brisbane to complete a Master in Conservation Science with The University of Queensland. A strong interest in threatened species, invasive species impact, disturbance, fragmentation and island dynamics led me to my final six-month research project with Salit Kark. This project will look at relationships between threatened species and fire, across all Australian islands and shed a light on some of Australia’s most diverse and threatened ecosystems.

Contact: a.odwyer@uq.net.au

Master of Conservation Science Student: Predator management effectiveness in Haast Kiwi Sanctuary 

I am working on my thesis partnered with the Department of Conservation’s Haast Kiwi Sanctuary. The focus of this project will be to analyse the effectiveness of past stoat management and create cost-effective steps for future action. Stoats are an introduced predator in New Zealand causing large declines in many kiwi species, and the Sanctuary houses the largest population of the rare Haast Tokoeka species. My undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Science, Zoology major, where I developed a passion for animal behaviour and community and ecosystem interactions.

Outside of this, I have worked with a team that evaluated the current population estimates for lions and conducted population assessments of leopards and hyenas in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park. I have also worked with WWF reviewing camera trap data of Northern Bettongs. I am most interested in creative ideas that make conservation more cost-effective and maximise benefits for both people and nature.

Contact: a.bezzina@uq.net.au

Master of Animal Science: Interactions between cavity-nesting birds and mammals

Environmental predictors of nest box occupancy in SE Queensland

I am in the final part of a Master of Conservation Science, undertaking a semester-long research project under the supervision of Salit Kark. My research will use statistical and spatial tools to focus on threatened species on Australia’s islands and how external factors such as fire or land tenure affect their conservation status compared to the mainland. I am an avid outdoorsperson with a keen interest in birds and am excited to contribute to the conservation of our country’s unique wildlife.

Master of Conservation Science thesis

I have completed my Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Botany and Zoology in India, during which I developed an interest in animal behaviour, conservation biology and human-wildlife interactions. Beyond academia, I have had the opportunity to work with a team led by a Wildlife Conservation Society researcher who conducted a population estimation of common leopards and assessed the human-leopard conflict in Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park. I have also worked on a project conducted by the Indian Institute of Science on the behavioural phenology of Peninsular rock agamas (Psammophilus dorsalis) in Andhra Pradesh.

I am currently pursuing my Master of Conservation Science degree. For my project, I will be working to analyse the dietary composition of two sympatric carnivore species using a DNA-based strategy in the human-dominated Kathmandu valley of Nepal. The findings will be used to examine the human-predator conflict to inform future conservation of the carnivores by making recommendations to mitigate the conflict prevalent within the region.

Contact: k.pereira@uq.net.au

Master of Conservation Science thesis: The impacts of predator-exclusion refugia on non-target small vertebrates in remnant vegetation of south-western Australia.

My research is on the relatively unknown impacts of introduced predator-free sanctuaries on non-target small reptiles, mammals and amphibians. While introduced predator-free sanctuaries effectively conserve target species (regionally extinct & endangered native mammals), birds and ecosystem processes, little is known about the impacts on local non-target, least-concern vertebrate species. Of key interest is whether non-target species richness and occupancy similarly benefit from introduced predator absence and how resultant changes in population and ecological dynamics might affect the wider ecosystem.

I have great interests in reintroduction and translocation biology, ecological restoration, sustainable livelihoods & development and Indigenous knowledge. I am an enthusiast of the philosophical, esoteric and ecocentric. I thrive in the outdoors, I volunteer as a wildlife rescuer and community educator, and I have completed an internship with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

Contact: joshua.hungerford@
uq.net.au

Master of Conservation Science thesis

I’m a veterinarian from Chile and I’ve had the opportunity to work with small carnivores as a research assistant at the Guigna Conservation Project, which focused on the vulnerable Kodkod (Leopardus guigna). More recently, I participated as a research assistant on a sea turtle monitoring project in Costa Rica and got involved in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation as an intern in California.

My research interests are around understanding threats and drivers of the decline of wild species populations to implement effective conservation actions. Other areas of interest are wildlife diseases and emerging zoonotic diseases. For my master’s project, I will focus on increasing the understanding of patterns and drivers of emerging infectious diseases, and identify opportunities to reduce the risk of disease emergence from wildlife while protecting biodiversity.

Contact: m.lopezjara@uq.net.au

Mercedes McLean is Algonquin from the Greater Golden Lake First Nation and is also of British ancestry. However, she grew up on Coast Salish Territory – Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Mount Allison University, Mercedes set out to develop a career in wildlife biology and ocean science. Her area of focus has been working with Indigenous communities to establish community-based research projects, which have included wildlife monitoring programs in the Canadian Rockies, and collaboratively developing ocean monitoring systems with Indigenous communities along coastal British Columbia and into the Canadian Arctic.

Master of Conservation Science Research: Advancing Conservation Decision-Making Practice: Using Indigenous Knowledge and Scientific Data to Inform Marine Conservation within Southern Resident Killer Whale Habitat along southwestern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

This was a research collaboration between Ocean Networks Canada, an initiative of the University of Victoria, in Canada and the University of Queensland, in Australia.

The Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) are critically listed with an imminent threat of extinction. For their survival and recovery, it is necessary that key foraging areas are protected, and salmon fisheries reduced, to increase prey availability. This case study aims to illustrate how Indigenous knowledge and scientific data can be effectively woven together to inform marine conservation decision-making for critical SRKW habitats. This methodological study evaluates the feasibility of using decision-support tools, including Marxan; the specific types of data that are needed; and assesses the processes required for inclusive and collaborative conservation planning and fisheries management within Indigenous communities.

Contact: m.mclean@
uqconnect.edu.au

Contact: odette.lawler@gmail.com

Conservation Science Master’s research: Spatiotemporal Interactions of Carnivores Exposed to Anthropogenic Pressures in Peru’s Montane Cloud Forest

My main area of interest is wildlife conservation in the tropics. Before moving to Australia, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Studies in Peru with a research project focusing on the habitat spatial use of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in the Amazon Rainforest.

My current study examines niche partitioning between eleven carnivore species and evaluates the impact of anthropogenic factors on the carnivore community in a highly threatened biodiversity hotspot within the Peruvian tropical montane cloud forests. Findings will guide conservation practitioners to address the ecological implications of a proposed road development within the study area.

Other than my work at UQ, I’m an environmental bilingual writer at Mongabay.com; and I dedicate my spare time to nature photography and filmmaking.

Contact: Instagram & Twitter: 
@romicastagnino.wild

Masters Student: Factors shaping the establishment of introduced starlings and mynas

I started my career as a lecturer of Zoology at Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, the same university from where I received my BSc and MSc in Zoology with a major in Wildlife Ecology, Management and Conservation Biology. Before heading to a PhD, I intended to attend a world-class institution to deepen my theoretical knowledge and practical skills. In 2017, I was awarded an Australia Award scholarship and obtained my second Master’s degree in Conservation Science in 2018 from the University of Queensland, Australia.

As part of my MSc degree at UQ, I worked under the supervision of Prof. Salit Kark. My research project aimed to understand the spatial patterns and factors influencing the establishment of introduced starlings and mynas which is important for better addressing and managing global biological invasions. I examined the effect of species traits on variation in their establishment success in the context of introduction effort and environment by using the Global Avian Invasions Atlas (GAVIA) database.

I have been engaged in different aspects of wildlife research in Bangladesh since 2009. My primary research interest lies in ecology, animal behaviour and biodiversity conservation.

Contact: s.shoma@
uqconnect.edu.au

Masters Student: Using species distribution models to estimate the potential distribution of Common myna (Acridotheres tristis) and common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) in Australia

I completed my undergraduate studies in Wildlife and Nature Reserve Management at Southwest Forestry University. When I began my first Ornithology course at the university, I fell in love with bird watching and chose to complete my dissertation for my Bachelor’s degree on an alien bird in China, the Asian open-bill Stork (Anastomus oscitans). That was my first time using the species distribution model.

My current Masters thesis used the Maxent model, a widely used species distribution model, to estimate the distribution of two introduced invasive species, the common myna and common starling. In the study, the potential distribution of myna and starling at different periods in Australia was predicted through the ecological niche model (ENM). The results were used to indicate invasion tendency and the changing habitat suitability of these species. Furthermore, the study tried to estimate the influences of anthropogenic landscapes on the invasion process of starlings and mynas. Considering these species were listed as ‘pest species’ globally, the study aimed to contribute spatial information for biocontrol in different regions in Australia based on the habitat suitability of these birds.

Contact: tingting.mo@outlook.com

Honours Student: Fine-scale interactions between native and invasive cavity-nesting birds in Australia

In 2015 I completed a dual degree of Science and Journalism majoring in Ecology at the University of Queensland. I finished my honours degree in July 2016 at UQ working with Associate Professor Salit Kark. In my project, I looked at small-scale interactions between native and invasive bird species around cavity trees. The Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis) was the focus of my studies. By comparing interactions in different locations I was able to develop an understanding of factors that promote the spread of this invasive species.

Carly currently works as the Bird and Reptile Specialist at Pet City Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, Australia.

Contact: carly.martin@uqconnect.edu.au

BSc Honours: Interactions between cavity-nesting birds and their implications for conservation

I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Marine Science at Griffith University in 2014 and began my Honours work with Salit Kark in 2014. I am particularly interested in the interactions around breeding cavities in the presence of invasive cavity-nesting species around Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. I specialize in conservation ecology, studying the management of biological invasions on both small and large scales. I have experience in marine biology working on Heron Island, monitoring the water chemistry on the reef flat to closely examine the implications of climate change pose on coral reef organisms and how to mitigate and manage their impacts. I have assisted in estuarine fish ecology and reptile biology fieldwork around the Gold Coast. In 2012, I completed work experience at the Griffith Center of Coastal Management. I worked on the Redesigned COPE Program (Coastal Observation Programme- Engineering), proposed for the Gold Coast City Council. I also have experience volunteering in zoos, attending koalas at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and penguins at Seaworld.

My project aims to develop interaction networks within cavity-nesting avian communities, which include invasive alien and native species, examining the source and front sites of an ongoing avian invasion and an urbanisation gradient. Aliens and native urban exploiters can have negative effects on abundance and the diversity of native species and other urban avoiders that are susceptible to urbanisation and ecological change. I will compare two sites where the Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis) has been established for over 30 years in Brisbane with two sites in the Sunshine Coast where mynas have only recently invaded. I will examine the nest occupancy, replacement and breeding success through three sub-environments (paved, park and fringe) within each location, over the 2014-2015 breeding season. I will also examine the outcomes of behavioural interactions between all cavity nesting birds in the community to identify “winners” and “losers” of interactions. My project will address an important gap in our scientific understanding of the role of invasion processes and urbanisation constraints on species interactions in a cavity-nesting community. The interaction webs will provide valuable future management for birds and conservation strategies that will effectively control invasion threats and mitigate urbanisation impacts on native biodiversity.

Contact: emily.dayman@uq.net.au

Research Project Student: Understanding how arboreal mammals are impacting native and invasive bird species in urban areas

I’m a fourth-year Bachelor of Advanced Science student, majoring in Biology. I’m doing the subject SCIE3011, which is a year-long research course, designed to give undergraduates an idea of what it’s like to join a research lab. I will be working under the supervision of Assoc. Professor Salit Kark and joining the invasive bird team, learning about and assisting the nest box projects currently underway. I have a broad range of interests within the ecology field and hope this project will give me an insight into current ecological research.

Contact: hannah.thomas2@uq.net.au

Honours Student

I have recently completed my Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in ecology at the University of Queensland. Starting in 2021, I will be working on an Honours project that will focus on quantifying threats to coastal ecosystems and biodiversity, with particular interest in the impacts on sea turtle nesting sites. I have always had a strong passion for nature and wildlife which developed from a young age and has only grown through my tertiary education. Even though I have never lived close to the ocean, I have always been fascinated by the majestic sea turtle species found around Australia’s coastlines and I am extremely excited to contribute to the conservation of species such as these, as well as the many other species that make up coastal ecosystems.

Contact: k.youman@uq.net.au